The Brown red earths on hilly lands east and west of Dongting lake wire studied, thr rcesuits obtained are summarized as follows: 1. In comparison with red earth, the main characteristics of formation for brown red rearth are weak in desilicificarion and allitic processes (the content of Fe₂O₃ is lower, Al₂O₃ is higher; the silica sesquoxide ratio is about 2.7-3.0), weaker in eluviation prqeess (the content of alkali metals and alkali earth metayls is as 1.18-3 times as red earth; the coefficiem of weathering and eluviation process. (the content of alkali metals and alkali earth metals is as 1.18-3 times as red earth; the.coefficient of weathering and eluviation is more than 0.3). The dominant clay minerals are illite and kaolinite; the content of free iron oxide is more than 2% and the degree of its segregration is 50-60%. 2. The properties of brown red earth are reddish yellow and dark reddish brown in color with the silt/clay and sand/clay ratios of less than 1 the clayization value of larger than 1;pH of 4.8-5.8, CEC 8-14 m.e/100 g soil, and a base saturation about 40-60%. 3. According to the indexes mentioned above, parcni materials and characteristics of the region, the soil families of typic brown red earth, granite brown earth, slate-cheer brown red earth, sandstone brown red earth are classified.